National Republican., 1887-10-21
BONDS THATpAIN.
Couples who Find Married Life n
Torture.


1t was somewhat OF busy day In thu
divorce market yesterday, but at the same
time the aid OF the court was not immedi-
ately invoked. The activity displayed was
In tho furnishing Of material upon which
the court will In the future be called upon
to act and decide whether or not, in the
papers presented, the petitioners have sus-
tained the charges set up In their respective
applications and are entitled to enjoy the
relief prayed for. In several instances the
grounds OF complaint are not only numer-
GUS, but OF very serious character, some Of
which, II sustained by proof, will endanger
the originators and executors Of the
schemes with criminal prosecution and the
likelihood OF confinement within prison
walls.
A remarkable case is set out in the bill
filed by Charles L. Barber against his wife,
Charlotte e. Barber, nee Battles. For the
past five years the complainant has resided
in this District, while the wife has con-
tented herself In making her home at
Girard, Pa. 1t was there that the couple
were married just one year ago yesterday.
Then they came to this city, where they
cohabited for some six months, when she
returned to Pennsylvania. In the bill the
husband avers that Mrs. Barber prior to
their marriage had contracted habit of
selfabuse, which, continuing up TO the
time OF their marriage, resulted in
her mental alienation and lunacy to
such an extent as to render he incapable
OF entering into valid contract Of mar
ringe. II had also reduced her physically,
but she declined to abandon the abomina.
BILE practice. Subsequent to the marriage
mental alienation manifested itself In yio-
lent fits OF temper, In gross drunkenness,
unnatural desires, and Irrational acts. 1t is
upon these grounds that the divorce is
sought after.
Another strange case, In which conspl-
racy to defame good name is charged, is
that or Warren j. Lown for divorce from
Laura V. Lown, brought out by her an-
swer to his petition, and her cross bill for
divorce and alimony.
In her answer, filed through her olicitor,
Col. VIM. A. Cook, she says that. she left
her husband In consequence OF long Sc
gering her health and life. She denies that
she was frequently guilty Of adultery, and
denies confessing such acts on Sept. 2 last.
In cross bill also filed for her by her coun-
sci che charges that shortly after her mar
riage, Apr. 10. 1871, Mr.. Lown began ex-
hibiting an evil temper toward her, and five
months after marriage assaulted her and
then abandoned her for seven months. At
the expiration o. about ID years of their
married life he engaged In tormentlng her
In different methods. He again abandoned
and refused to provide for her; that in Au-
gust, 1885, he came to her and threw glass
goblet at her head and cut her. At another
time he threatened her with pistol held to
her face; that In August, 1887, shortly be-
fore she left him, he came to the house at
Mount Pleasant, when she was washing,
and without uttering word threw
stones at her, breaking window,
and then getting bucket Of water threw it
at her, saying he wanted to drown her. She
further charges that he did all he could to
array her children against her, using such
terms as "hussy" and told devil" toward
her, and under such pressure she was com. &.
PEELED to leave him. Upon her doing so
and taking up her residence with her sister,
at 5lo Maine avenue; he employed detec-
about Sept. she was visiting friend aud
was introduced to gentleman called
Haynes, and shortly after visited with him
restaurant on Eleventh street, between @
and X streets, and entered one OF the rooms
preparatory to getting something to eat;
that the door was left open, and while there
Haynes, by force, placed her In a compro-
missing attitude, and while In that position
her husband, with one Morrison and one
Bloss, entered the room and there charged
her with adultery. she asserts on informa-
tion and belief, that Haynes was at the time
in the pay Of her husband, and she was en-
ticed and taken to the place on false repre-
sentations and statements, In pursuanc 0
Of conspiracy between Haynes and the
other persons named, one Ferguson aud
others whose names are unknown, and
that the money was furnished by Mr. Lown
to these persons to carry out the conspiracy.
She says the defendant Is worth $4,000 to
$100, 200, and asks for the custody OF their
three children and alimony,
The third and last application for the day
was that Of Jennie A. Smith, who says she
has resided here for the past two years; that
her husband, Edward NJ. Smith, did live In
New Carlisle, Ohio, but his present where
abouts are unknown to her. 1t is charged
that he committed, about March, 1885,
adultery at Earville. N. Y, and at other
times elsewhere. She asks permission to
resume her maiden name of Jennie A. Ber-
linphame,